Tuesday, May 29, 2012

EDC breakfast stresses early education to ensure career success

FAIRFIELD — Business and civic leaders took in the oft-used message, “it takes a village” to educate a child during Thursday’s annual economic development breakfast focusing on the early years of a child’s life.

While the Solano Economic Development Corporation breakfasts take place
monthly, this is the third annual event that focused on the need to start a
positive path toward education while the child is young. It was emphasized by
various speakers that the path, which starts at birth, can be helped by not only
parents and educators, but the business community as well.

The one-hour event, hosted by First 5 Solano, took place at the Hilton Garden
Inn.

“The early years matter. . . . Everyone has to help,” said Christina
Arrostuto, executive director of First 5 Solano.

While most speakers stressed the early years, Jay Speck, superintendent of
the Solano County Office of Education, talked about the mental paradigm shift
between what college meant to his generation and what it means today.

“The world has changed . . . . We’ve got to start thinking that college
doesn’t have to mean a four-year degree,” he said, referencing the importance of
technical and trade schools in that shift.

The keynote speaker, Catherine Atkin, executive director of Preschool
California, emphasized the need to connect the dots between the early years and
career readiness. The early years are getting our greatest asset ready, Atkin
said.

“Where can you put a scarce dollar?” she said when talking about business
investments. “Put it in the early years and you will reap the benefits.”

Dilenna Harris, a Vacaville city councilwoman and executive director of the
Solano County Library Foundation, spoke about the library’s efforts to increase
literacy levels through its Literacy in Education Access Resource Network
programs and delivered negative statistics that the U.S., California and Solano
County face today.

One-third of the nation’s children start school unprepared to learn.

More than 40,000 Solano County residents are considered low-literate adults.

Solano County’s dropout rate is higher than the state’s at nearly 19
percent.

“Economic development requires an educated and literate workforce,” she said
in her presentation.

The event also included the 2012 Family Friendly Business awards given to
businesses that provide such things as lactation spaces for nursing mothers or
family friendly activities and liberal time off for baby-bonding. This year’s
winners are Ball Metal Beverage Corporation, Genentech, Jelly Belly, Kaiser
Permanente, Meyer Corporation and State Farm Insurance.